Cody man alleged to have inflicted serious injuries in fight

Posted 1/16/25

A Cody man is facing a felony charge after he allegedly took a fight too far and seriously injured a 33-year-old Powell man last week.

Michael “Ike” Hothan, 39, is alleged to have …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Cody man alleged to have inflicted serious injuries in fight

Posted

A Cody man is facing a felony charge after he allegedly took a fight too far and seriously injured a 33-year-old Powell man last week.

Michael “Ike” Hothan, 39, is alleged to have kicked and stomped on the man’s face after the altercation was effectively over — breaking multiple bones in the man’s face and inflicting several cuts that required stitches.

Hothan was arrested after the Friday afternoon altercation and remained in custody on Wednesday. He’s been charged with aggravated assault, with bail set at $25,000 cash.

According to an affidavit from Cody Police Officer Seth Horn in support of the charge, the fight stemmed from a loan — reportedly totaling $45 — that Hothan had provided to the other man. Hothan was frustrated that the man hadn’t repaid the debt, the affidavit says, and when the man visited Hothan’s Cody apartment, an argument ensued.

It began as a verbal dispute, but, according to their accounts to police, it became physical after the man either pushed or attempted to headbutt Hothan.

Hothan indicated the ensuing fight was mutual, but both the alleged victim and Hothan’s roommate said Hothan had taken it too far.

The roommate, who actually rents the apartment, told police he broke up the fight. However, he said Hothan got free and proceeded to kick and stomp on the victim’s head approximately six times, the affidavit says. Police were called to the apartment around 4 p.m.

Officer Horn noted two large spots of blood on the floor where the two men fought and more blood spattered “throughout” the room. He also noticed blood on Hothan’s clothes and boots; Hothan had a scratch and small cut on his head, the affidavit says.

As for the alleged victim, when Horn later interviewed him at Cody Regional Health, he said the man’s face was noticeably swollen and covered in blood, blood had pooled around his neck and he was having a hard time breathing through his bleeding nose. A doctor later relayed that the man had suffered a broken nose, jaw and left cheek bone, plus four cuts to his face that required stitches, the affidavit says.

The alleged victim reportedly said “that it’s one thing for men to settle their differences, but believed that Hothan had gone too far,” Horn recounted.

The officer had reached a similar conclusion at the scene.

“I determined, regardless of who instigated the altercation, that when Hothan began kicking or stomping [the victim’s] head, that he was no longer merely defending himself,” Horn wrote.

In addition to charging Hothan with aggravated assault, the Park County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is also seeking to revoke his probation on misdemeanor convictions from last year for domestic battery and driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Although he’d been ordered to abstain from drinking, the affidavit says a breath test administered when Hothan was booked into jail pegged his blood alcohol content at 0.17%. A person is presumed to be too impaired to drive at 0.08%.

Probation revocation hearings on the misdemeanor convictions and a preliminary hearing on the aggravated assault charge are tentatively set for Jan. 22.

Comments

No comments on this story    Please log in to comment by clicking here
Please log in or register to add your comment